A direct comparison is not possible. There is a significant reduction on the 2009 immigration figures but Intra-Company Transfers (ICTs) have been excluded from the limit for next year. Against that, the minimum salary for ICTs has been increased from £24,000 p.a. to £40,000. This is likely to reduce the numbers involved. However, even if there is no reduction in ICTs, there will still be a reduction from 50,000 in 2009 to 43,000.

There is also an important hint that the government intends to close down the Tier 1 (Post Study) Route which last year allowed 38,000 foreign graduates to stay on for two years in search of work.

Commenting, Sir Andrew Green, Chairman of MigrationWatch UK said, ‘This is a thorough and wide-ranging package. The government’s decision to break the link between economic migration and settlement is a major step forward. These measures are a very good start on delivering the government’s immigration pledges. The next stage is to address bogus students and bogus colleges.’